NWS Lubbock

1963: An outbreak of nine tornadoes struck Hockley, Lamb and Lubbock Counties this evening accompanied by torrential rains
and large hail. Fortunately there were no injuries from these tornadoes, but several did cause heavy damage to structures.
The first tornado caused extensive damage on the Archie Howard and Dickie Lee farms located about 1.5 miles north of
Fieldton. Barns, some outbuildings, trees, and fences were destroyed on the Howard farm. The Lee home had shingles torn
off the roof, a hole punched in the bathroom wall, several windows shattered, a well house destroyed, and barns partially
damaged. A house on the Buck Frederickson farm was also damaged. By nightfall, four tornadoes occurred in open country in
the vicinity of Olton; one of which destroyed a well house and farm equipment five miles south of town. The parent storm
deposited up to eight inches worth of small and large hail and as much as 5.5 inches of rain resulting in hundreds of
thousands of dollars in damage to area crops. Around this same time, a small tornado destroyed a barn and garage and
damaged farm machinery and two automobiles on the Dee Hight farm located two miles north of Lubbock Municipal Airport.
Support poles six inches in diameter were pulled three to four feet out of the ground. At some point later this night, two
more tornadoes developed; this time in Hockley County where one destroyed barns at the C.P. Arnwine farm located four
miles east of Ropesville. A well house was destroyed and the well motor was lifted and turned over on the Jeffcoat farm.
Another barn was destroyed at the Bradshaw farm. The final tornado developed at the southeast edge of Ropesville and
traveled northwest, but lifted just before entering the town. Some areas in Lamb County that avoided the first round of
destructive storms earlier this evening unfortunately fell victim to wind-driven hail and heavy rains from a final round
of storms late this night. Golf ball size hail fell in Olton, high winds downed some power lines north and south of town,
several roads were closed due to high water, particularly US Highway 70 and State Road 168, and many more crops were
devastated. Similar crop damage from hail occurred this night in parts of Parmer and Bailey Counties. Some towns and
cities in these counties such as Muleshoe suffered moderate property damage from quarter to golf ball size hail that piled
up to four inches deep. About $100,000 in property damage was estimated in Bailey and Parmer Counties.